AUBURN, Ala. – Returning to Jane B. Moore Field for competition for the first time in 11 months, Auburn softball welcomes Southeast Missouri State for a three-game series to open the 2021 season.
The season begins with a doubleheader on Saturday. Due to inclement weather, first pitch has been moved to 2 p.m. CT. Game two will begin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one. Sunday's series finale is slated for a noon start.
"They're a good softball team," said head coach Mickey Dean. "In last year's shortened season, they were in the top three in home runs and home runs per game. They have an experienced pitching staff, and they've had over 100 stolen bases in the last three years. A lot of people may not know them, but this is a very good softball team that we're playing this weekend."
Mark Reburn led Southeast Missouri State to a 12-5 record in the shortened 2020 season. The Redhawks were tabbed as the preseason favorite to win the Ohio Valley Conference. This weekend is the first meeting in school history between the two programs.
"Every day we're striving to be the best athletes we can be and the best team out there," said graduate student-athlete Alyssa Rivera. "We're here with a chip on our shoulder, and we're going to prove ourselves."
Saturday's doubleheader will be available to stream on the SEC Network+ with Brit Bowen (play-by-play) and former Auburn softball All-American Kasey Cooper (analyst) on the call. All three games of the series can also be heard on the Auburn Sports Network.
LEADING OFF
- Auburn softball returns to the field after an 11-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Saturday marks the first contest for the Tigers since Auburn defeated Georgia State 2-1 on March 11, 2020.
- Auburn's season opening series against Southeastern Missouri State will mark the first meeting between the two squads. Auburn holds a 19-4-1 all-time record in season openers. Auburn has won six of its last seven season-opening contests.
- Depth won't be an issue for the Tigers as Auburn returns 18 letterwinners from the 2020 season, including eight starters. Graduate students Tannon Snow, Justus Perry and Alyssa Rivera all elected to return after their senior seasons were shortened due to COVID-19. Snow will not see the field this season due to knee injury suffered in the fall.
- Softball American tabbed two Tigers to its preseason Top 100 Collegiate Players as right-hander Samantha Yarbrough checked in at No. 68 and newcomer Kaylee Horton, a transfer from Ole Miss, cracked the list at No. 90
- Makenna Dowell returns after a breakout junior season at the plate. Dowell was the second toughest batter to strikeout in the SEC last season with just two in her 81 at-bats.
- One of the best defensive first basemen in the country, Justus Perry is 61 putouts away from being just the eighth Tiger in program history to record at least 1,000 career putouts. Perry ranks tied for fourth in program history with a .989 fielding percentage entering her fifth year on The Plains.
- Eight true freshmen will make their collegiate debuts this season. The 2020 Auburn freshman class was ranked as the No. 4 recruiting class in the country by FloSoftball as the Tigers signed six of the Top 100 ranked recruits. Earlier this preseason, Maddie Penta was tabbed the No. 9 collegiate freshman in the country by Softball America.
GAME DAY INFORMATION & COVID PROTOCOLS
Auburn Athletics announced reduced capacity at Jane B. Moore Field to begin the 2020 season. Ticket information has been emailed directly to 2020 softball season ticket holders as well as students. Available and unavailable seats are marked accordingly.
Face coverings (over the nose and mouth) will be required for all spectators and gameday workers upon entry and while inside Jane B. Moore Field. Guests may remove face coverings while actively eating or drinking.
Directional signage, stanchions and barriers will be installed to facilitate six-foot social physical distance at entry gates, concourse pathways, concessions and merchandise queues and seating areas. Physical distancing will be maintained throughout the facility to the fullest extent possible.
All transactions for concessions and merchandise at Jane B. Moore Field will be contactless and cashless (credit/debit and Tiger Cards only).
Enhanced cleaning and sanitization procedures throughout the park prior to and during all games will be in effect for the 2021 season.
Additional information related to health and safety guidelines for Jane B. Moore Field can be found at auburntigers.com/softballgameday.
ON DECK
The Tigers trek to Jacksonville, Fla., for the Osprety/Dolphin Invitational hosted by North Florida and Jacksonville University. The two-day tournament will be split with competition on Friday held on the campus of Jacksonville and Saturday at North Florida. Auburn will face SEC foe South Carolina twice in non-conference competition as well as the two tournament hosts. Auburn's road test begins Friday, Feb. 19 at 12 p.m. CT against the Gamecocks.